Parks/Outdoor

Action Wildlife Foundation, Inc. offers residents of CT, MA and NY the unusual opportunity of observing and learning about animals from North America, Africa, India, New Zealand, Asia and the Artic. As well as viewing wild animals, children can visit the small petting zoo and feed the animals as well as a museum gallery. Action Wildlife Foundation, 337 Torrington Road (Rt. 4), Goshen, CT 06756. For more information, call (860) 482-4465 or visit www.actionwildlife.org

Welcher Avenue, Peekskill, New York, (914) 862-5275
Blue Mountain Reservation is a 1,500-acre park in the northwest section of Westchester County. It features miles of trails for mountain biking, strolling and nature study, and offers challenging hikes to the tops of two large peaks, Mt. Spitzenberg and Blue Mountain.

1601 Route 9D, Garrison, NY 10524, (845) 265-3638
Boscobel is situated on a bluff on the east bank of the Hudson River opposite the United States Military Academy at West Point. The house museum and surrounding grounds and gardens are situated on 45 acres. They offer visitors memorable views of the Hudson Highlands and the Hudson River. The house was completed in 1808 for the States Dyckman family and is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the country. It contains one of the nation’s leading collections of furniture and decorative arts from the Federal period, much of it made by premier New York cabinetmakers such as Duncan Phyfe and Michael Allison. Nearby, visitors can explore the nineteenth century village of Cold Spring with its antique and specialty shops. Check for hours and days before your visit, Boscobel is not a year-round facility. Visit www.boscobel.org

Yonkers to Valhalla, (914) 723-4058
The Bronx River Parkway Reservation, Westchester’s oldest park, is an 807-acre paved linear park that was created as an adjunct to the Bronx River Parkway that opened in 1925. The Reservation touts a number of “firsts”: it was the first linear park in Westchester, as well as one of the first in the country, and, the Bronx River Parkway was the first parkway in the nation. The Reservation also has the distinction of being the first official Westchester County Park, whose establishment led to the creation of today’s County Park System of more than 50 parks spanning nearly 18,000 acres. The picturesque Reservation, which runs through the heart of southern Westchester County, features ponds, wooden footbridges, and hundreds of varieties of native trees and shrubs. It is a favorite place for bicycling, walking, running and nature study.

149 Girdle Ridge Rd, Katonah, NY 10536, (914) 232-5035
Caramoor is the legacy of Walter and Lucie Rosen, who established the estate and built a great house as its centerpiece, filling it with treasures collected on their travels. The Rosens furnished their mansion with their vast collection of European and Asian art and furnishings. With its outstanding performances, engaging arts-in-education programming, the extraordinary Rosen House, and beautiful grounds, Caramoor is a cornerstone of the cultural life of Westchester County and beyond. Since 1945 visitors have delighted in the exceptional music – from classical to opera to jazz – and the enchanting garden setting that makes Caramoor such a unique and treasured resource. Visit www.caramoor.org.

Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park is a delight for outdoor enthusiasts. This 14,086 acre park, covering land in Putnam and Dutchess counties, boasts hiking trails, a beautiful beach, picnic areas, scenic campground, and abundant opportunities for boating, hunting, fishing, and birding. The park is also home to the Taconic Outdoor Education Center which provides high quality environmental programming and Fahnestock Winter Park which includes groomed trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The large beach at Canopus Lake is the jewel of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial Park. Its sandy shore and nearby picnic area are enjoyed by thousands of bathers. In addition to swimming, campers and day trippers can fish in or tour Canopus Lake by row boats which are available for rental. The scenic campground, formed along the park’s natural rock ridges, provides alcoves of privacy and tranquility for campers. Each of the 80 campsites has a picnic table and fire ring. The campground’s nature center houses environmental displays and a variety of touch boxes. On weekends, park staff organizes hikes and craft activities. Movies are shown on Saturday evenings for the enjoyment of all campers. Find out more at nysparks.com/parks/133/details.aspx

1609 Old Orchard St, White Plains, NY 10604, (914) 428-1005
Cranberry Lake is a 190-acre nature preserve comprised of forest, wetlands, and a 10-acre lake that was carved by glaciers thousands of years ago. There are three miles of trails, including a loop around the lake, and others that traverse the predominantly northern oak-hickory forest. The area is part of the Kensico Reservoir watershed, which provides drinking water for residents of Westchester County and New York City. The name Cranberry Lake is derived from the growth of wild cranberry, which still exist in various parts of the fen

Dinosaur State Park is one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. Beneath their geodesic dome, you will find an exceptional display of early Jurassic fossil tracks that were made 200 million years ago. Surrounding the Exhibit Center are more than two miles of nature trails and the Dinosaur State Park Arboretum. For more information call 860.529.8423 or visit www.dinosaurstatepark.org. Dinosaur State Park, 400 West Street, Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067-3506.

700 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY 10577, (914) 253-3433
The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Garden features a collection of 20th-century sculpture set within 168 landscaped acres surrounding the world headquarters of PepsiCo. Smaller pieces by Henry Moore, Seymour Lipton, Henri Laurens, and others fill the building’s courtyard, which is shaded by trees and filled with flowers and a central fountain. Monumental works, including pieces by Alexander Calder, George Segal, Isamu Noguchi, Claes Oldenburg, Louise Nevelson, Jean Dubuffet, and David Smith, are spaced throughout the grounds. A “Golden Path,” the inspiration of Russell Page, winds its way past the sculptures and through the various landscapes, offering walkers an opportunity to see the art from many perspectives. The grounds include a lake; a stream garden; lily ponds; an iris garden and perennial garden; two woodland gardens; topiary; and groves of birch, oak, sequoia, and many other species. A detailed map is available at the Visitor Center. PepsiCo welcomes the public, picnicking is allowed in a designated area. The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Garden is located at PepsiCo World Headquarters, 700 Anderson Hill Road in Purchase. Free admission. 914-253-2000.

Earthplace is a private, nonprofit organization with a mission to educate the community about nature and how to take action in preserving and protecting our environment. There are many entertaining AND educational things to do at Earthplace. These include adventurous ‘treasure hunts’ on its 6 main trails through the woods, a visit to the Bird & Butterfly Garden or Animal Hall, as well as many more thrills to seek both indoors and outdoors. Offering kid-friendly programs and workshops like Eagle Eyes: Nature Detective, Earthplace Explorers Club, Tots Mommy & Me, and Critters & Crafts, children are encouraged to explore the environment and enjoy each new discovery. Earthplace reaches out to adults through programs including Animal Care Volunteer Workshops and Stream Exploration & Monitoring as well as ongoing volunteer opportunities. Earthplace also offers a Preschool for 3-4 year olds, School Outreach Programs, as well as children’s birthday parties. Earthplace, 10 Woodside Lane, P.O. Box 165, Westport, CT. Call 203.227.7253 or visit www.earthplace.org.

2957 Crompond Rd,Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, (914) 245-4434
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park offers day trippers a day of fun and relaxation. The park’s spacious picnic areas, which can accommodate individual families as well as large groups, may be reserved in advance. The park’s mammoth pool can hold 4,000 bathers at one time! In addition the park offers a host of other activities for people of all ages to enjoy. The park’s Mohansic Lake and Crom Pond, provide excellent freshwater fishing and boating. Popular catches include bass, perch, and sun fish. A New York State Freshwater Fishing License is required. Both rowboats and pedal boats are available for rental; however, a regional boating permit allows visitors to launch their own rowboats, canoes or kayaks. In wintertime, the pond provides ice skating and ice fishing. All picnic areas have volleyball nets and many have softball fields or basketball courts. There is also a soccer field. Sports enthusiasts may wish to try their hand at Disc golf. The rules and scorecards are located at the course and loaner Frisbees are available from the park office. The young and the young at heart will enjoy sledding or cross country skiing.

99 Dromore Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583, (914) 723-3470
Our mission is to educate and to promote conservation, research, and appreciation of nature and the environment while preserving the natural and historic character of our property. Features a 33-acre woodland preserve, with live animals, a museum, a greenhouse with botanical exhibits, and a hands-on discovery room. Visit www.greenburghnaturecenter.org.

28 Deveau Rd, North Salem, NY 10560, (914) 669-5033
The Japanese Stroll Garden provides a place of natural beauty and tranquility, to delight the senses and refresh the spirit. It is a place where aspects of Eastern and Western culture can be appreciated through art exhibitions, concerts, special events and educational programs in order to promote global awareness and understanding. The museum also supports the efforts of artists and performers in the Greater New York Metropolitan Region. Visit www.hammondmuseum.org.

There’s always something new at the historic sites of Historic Hudson Valley. In spring, lambs are born on the farm at Philipsburg Manor and wisteria blossoms cover the façade of Kykuit. Summer brings opportunities to kayak on the river or play 19th-century baseball at festivals like River Day and Independence Day 1856. The Headless Horseman, ghosts, pirates, and other scary characters from Hudson Valley folklore make appearances around Halloween. Winter is the time to explore the sites by candlelight and enjoy a warm cup of cider by the bonfire. You will want to come back to the sites again and again, and bring friends and family to celebrate the changing seasons at Historic Hudson Valley. Of course, Historic Hudson Valley’s sites are wonderful places to just unwind. You can read a book, picnic, stroll in a garden, hike a woodland trail, bird watch, sketch, visit the farm animals, play traditional children`s games, and enjoy the beauty and serenity of the Hudson Valley. www.hudsonvalley.org

Four beautiful garden sites and the historic home of the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Jay. Pleasant walking environment and interesting house museum. Childrens’ programs are run throughout the year, call for a current schedule. 400 Route 22/Jay Street, Katonah, 914.232.5651. For more information, visit www.nysparks.com or www.johnjayhomestead.org.

Bronx River Pkwy, Valhalla, NY 10595, (914) 328-1542
Kensico Dam Plaza is a 98 acre property located at the base of the Kensico Dam. The park provides a unique setting for a wide variety of activities including ethnic celebrations, concerts, antiques shows and arts and craft shows, as well as areas for picnicking, in-line skating, walking and nature study.

2610 Amawalk Rd, Katonah, NY 10536, (914) 864-7268
Lasdon Park, Arboretum and Veterans Memorial is a magnificent 234 acre property consisting of woodlands, open grass meadow and formal gardens with flower and shrub specimens from all over the world. Lasdon is also the site of the Chinese Friendship Pavilion that was a gift from the People’s Republic of China to the citizens of Westchester. The park also houses four inspirational memorials and a museum honoring Westchester veterans. Lasdon is available for meetings, weddings and other catered events.

287 Ridge Rd, Hartsdale, NY 10530, (914) 946-8133
This 172 acre park is centrally located in the county and a perfect spot for group picnics. A section of V.E. Macy Park has been renamed so that the history of the Irish who fled to Westchester in the 1840s to escape poverty and famine will never be forgotten. The Great Hunger Memorial was unveiled on June 24, 2001 at V.E. Macy Park in Ardsley to commemorate the suffering of millions of Irish immigrants who died from the potato famine or were forced to leave their country. The monument was created by Eamonn O’Doherty.

167 Mianus River Rd, Bedford, NY 10506, (914) 234-3455
The Mianus River Gorge Preserve (MRGP) remains an oasis of rich woodland and old-growth forest. The Preserve was established in 1953 to protect an old-growth hemlock forest and receives the special designation as the first Nature Conservancy land project and the first National Natural History Landmark designated by the US Department of the Interior. Today, the Mianus River Gorge Preserve, Inc., is an independent not-for-profit that protects over 750 acres of land and a water supply for over 150,000 people in Connecticut and New York. Drawing on our rich history of science-based management and land conservation, we continue to be a model for the protection of rare, isolated habitat in an increasingly developed world. Visit www.mianus.org.

Muscoot is a 777 acre early 1900′s interpretive farm that depicts life as it would have been lived on a country gentleman’s farm circa 1880-1950. Visitors can view a variety of farm animals, tour historic farm buildings, see a collection of historic agriculture equipment and tools, walk to the ice pond, and hike over 7 miles of woodland trails. Educational programs and workshops are offered on weekends. Hayrides are offered on Sundays from May through October. Refreshment stand open in season. Admission and parking are free. Rte 100, Somers, NY 10570. 914.864.7282. Visit muscootfarm.org.

2694 Dr Theodore Kazimiroff Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458, (718) 817-8700
A grand museum of plants. A place to relax, rejuvenate, and experience the wonders of nature. A worldwide leader in studying the Earth’s plant life. The New York Botanical Garden is all of these things and a great deal more. Founded in 1891, the Garden is one of the world’s great collections of plants, the region’s leading educational center for gardening and horticulture, and an international center for plant research. The Garden is alive with opportunities for discovery, from an “ecotour” of the world in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory to an innovative indoor/outdoor science museum for kids to 50 exquisite gardens and plant collections, all on a 250-acre National Historic Landmark site in New York City’s Bronx borough. Visit www.nybg.org.

The Onatru Farm Town Park and the Onatru Preserve are owned by the Town of Lewisboro. They were donated by Alice Lane Poor. Onatru is a word created by her father, Edward Lane, from “On a True Farm.” Recreation facilities at the park include fields for baseball, soccer and lacrosse, tennis courts and a play area. A marked walking trail leads through hardwood forests and a stand of Scotch pine. The open fields afford a good opportunity for bird watching. The Preserve across the street from the park consists of marsh and a small pond reached by a short trail suitable for the smallest of hikers. A camping area is available with a permit from the Town Clerk. The remnants of an old foundation can be found in the woods near Shady Lane. Trail length is 1.5 miles. Level: Moderate. Directions: Onatru Farm is located at 99 Elmwood Road in the Lewisboro Hamlet. Parking is in the Park.

Playland Park features arcade games and 45 major rides for children and adults, including roller coasters, vertical thrills, log flume, and plenty of twists, turns and shouts. The Park also offers the following attractions: beach and boardwalk, swimming pool, lake boating and kayaking, picnic area, entertainment, miniature golf and ice-skating. Playland, operating since 1928, is a famous 279 acre recreational complex owned and operated by Westchester County. It overlooks the Long Island Sound and is highlighted by historic Art Deco structures and a beautiful grassy, flowered mall. Playland Park was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. Minature Golf Available. Playland Ice Casino, indoor ice skating on 3 climate controlled rinks is open September through May. The Casino features a snack bar, skate rental, games arcade and lounge. Playland Skating School offers ice skating lessons. Visit www.ryeplayland.org. Playland Parkway, Rye, NY 10580. 914.813.7000.

PRLC is a private, non-profit corporation with the mission of preserving the character of Pound Ridge through the acquisition, conservation and stewardship of land. The Conservancy’s preserves are kept in their natural state for aesthetic, ecological and education purposes. The PRLC is involved in the following activities in support of its mission: preserving undeveloped land, stewardship of 14 preserves, community education, identifying strategic parcels of land in town, working cooperatively with other local land protection organizations and town agencies and boards on land conservation through advocacy, education, outreach and demonstration projects. Find out more at www.prlc.net.

Route 117, Sleepy Hollow Rd, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591, (914) 631-1470
Visitors will delight in the ever growing haven of open space in Westchester County known as Rockefeller State Park Preserve. The Preserve is an idyllic spot for strolling, jogging, horseback riding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. With 180 recorded species of birds, the Preserve is a must visit area for birders. In season, licensed anglers enjoy fishing for bass in the 22 acre Swan Lake and for brown trout in the Pocantico River. Stop in the Preserve’s Gallery across from the Visitor Center. Its rotating exhibits feature the art of local artists. The most notable feature of the Preserve is the system of carriage roads built by Rockefellers. Designed to complement the landscape, the carriage roads, many of which are handicapped accessible, allow visitors to experience and enjoy the natural wonders of the area. These scenic paths wind through wetlands, woodlands, meadows, and fields and past streams, rivers, and lakes. Trail maps of all the carriage roads and equestrian permits are available at the Preserve Office.

873 Boston Post Rd, Rye, NY 10580, (914) 967-5150
The Rye Nature Center is a Rye City-owned facility offering environmental programs through the cooperative efforts of the Friends of Rye Nature Center and the City of Rye. The Center is located on 47 acres of wildlife preserve, with over two miles of hiking trails, ponds, streams and granite outcroppings. The Nature Center has comfortable classroom and museum spaces for visiting classes and special events. Visit www.ryenaturecenter.org.

149 Jackson Ave, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10706, (914) 231-3450
Sprain Ridge Park is named for its location on a ridge between the northbound and southbound lanes of the Sprain Brook Parkway. The Park’s 278-acres include a developed portion with a pool complex and picnic areas. The remainder of the park is heavily wooded with a variety of hiking and mountain bike trails.

This is several venues in one! Check out the different visiting exhibitions in the Museum. This always includes a child-friendly hands-on activity. Then tour Heckscher Farm– ask for The Heckscher Farm Activity Guide & Scavenger Hunt booklet. Then stop by for a visit at Animal Embassy, an independent venture that rescues exotic pets. Maybe you’ll stumble upon lunch time for the giant turtles when they amble between your feet to eat off the vegetable plate that the caretakers set on the floor for them. Or maybe you’ll be able to hold a snake or chinchilla! And don’t miss the amazing playground. That’s a great place for mom to bring a book for a long read while kids play! Call theStamford Nature Center at 203.322.1646, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford CT 06903, www.stamfordmuseum.org.

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture is a beautiful non-profit farm, educational center and restaurant in the heart of Westchester County. Our mission is to demonstrate, teach and promote sustainable, community-based food production. Open to visitors of all ages, we offer a unique experience: a chance to learn about farming firsthand on a real working farm, the only farm open to the public so close to New York City. Stone Barns Center is a four-season operation, producing food even in deep winter in the minimally heated greenhouse. Check our website for updated event and program schedules, or just drop by to walk around and see the animals, fields, and greenhouse. Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills, NY 10591. For more information, call 914.366.6200 x112, or visit www.stonebarnscenter.org.

West Sunnyside Lane, Off Route 9, Tarrytown, (914) 591-8763
A visit to Sunnyside is an enchanted adventure in a romantic landscape and a much-loved riverside home that has been charming visitors for generations. Hear about Washington Irving’s storied past and how he came to be America’s first internationally famous author, best remembered now for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other short stories. A gently curved path leads to gorgeous views of the Hudson River and reveals the allure of Sunnyside’s unique design, its intimate setting, its bucolic grounds, and its association with a beloved man of letters. Your guide, dressed elegantly in hoop skirts or formal dress of the times, explains how Washington Irving designed Sunnyside and its grounds himself, collaborating with his neighbor, the artist George Harvey. The grounds reflect Washington Irving’s romantic view of art, nature, and history. He arranged garden paths, trees and shrubs, vistas, and water features to appear natural, and planted an exotic wisteria vine (still growing) to envelope the house. Visit site.

1600 Spring Valley Rd # 1, Ossining, NY 10562, (914) 762-2912Teatown Lake Reservation is a nonprofit, environmental organization with an 834-acre nature preserve and education center located in the Lower Hudson Valley in the Towns of Yorktown, Cortlandt, and New Castle. Teatown Lake Reservation’s mission is to conserve open space and to educate and involve the regional community in order to sustain the diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats for future generations. Teatown’s educators offer adult, family and children’s programs to over 10,000 participants annually. Annually, over 15,000 hikers traverse Teatown’s 15 miles of scenic trails that span abundant fields, mixed forests, lakes, streams, swamps and farm land. Our Nature Center is a source of wildlife knowledge and home to a variety of amphibians, birds of prey, mammals and reptiles. Visit www.teatown.org.

Slated for opening July 16, 2012: The Adventure Park at The Discovery Museum! The Adventure Park will be situated on five acres of forestland in Veterans Memorial Park, behind the Discovery Museum & Planetarium and will consist of about 110 platforms installed in the trees and connected by various configurations of cable, wood and rope to form bridges and challenges of different kinds including the ever-popular zip lines. Groups of bridges link together to form “aerial trails” throughout the forest. There will be a total of 8 different trails to choose from, ranging in difficulty from beginner level to expert. Trails are suitable for ages seven to adult. Participants wear harnesses which are doubly secured to safety cables using the Park’s own “always locked on” climbing system of interlocking carabineers (coupling links). Park goers receive a thorough orientation before going on the trails. For more information please visit www.DiscoveryAdventurePark.org.

The Audubon Center in Greenwich offers birders, families, students, teachers, photographers, hikers and all who are interested in learning about the natural world a place to explore and discover. With 285 acres of woodland, wetland and meadow habitat, 10 miles of hiking trails, interpretive programs, wildife viewing window, premier hawk watching site, an art gallery, a nature store, as well as special events, summer bird count, children’s summer day camp, Fall Hawkwatch Festival, and Christmas Bird Count, there’s a little something for everyone. Visit www.greenwich.center.audubon.org

The Bronx Zoo is the biggest zoo in the Metropolitan area, and is dedicated to the preservation of wildlife and wild places around the globe. It is a part of the Wildlife Conservation Society. The zoo has over 4,000 animals and features such installations as the Congo Gorilla Forest and the Indoor Asian Rainforest. It also features a string of children’s and family educational programs that involve animal study and projects. The Bronx Zoo is open from 10:00-4:30 every day. For additional information, please call (718) 367-1010 or visit www.bronxzoo.com

Fort Tryon Park, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, New York, NY 10040, (212) 923-3700
The Cloisters, the branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe, was assembled from architectural elements, both domestic and religious, that date from the twelfth through the fifteenth century. The building and its cloistered gardens—located in Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan—are treasures in themselves, effectively part of the collection housed there. View highlights from The Cloisters: sculpture, tapestries, illuminated manuscripts, goldsmiths` and silversmiths` work, stained glass, enamels, ivories, and more. Phone 212-650-2280.

The Greenburgh Nature Center is a unique oasis of greenery and tranquility — just off Central Avenue in Scarsdale. Our mission is four-fold — Conservation, Education, Research and Cultural Enrichment. We are pledged to conserve the natural and historic character of our 33 acre property and local wildlife. We provide exciting and informative nature and environmental programs and exhibits for people of all ages and backgrounds. We encourage natural history research by our staff, area students, and scientists. And, we promote cultural enrichment through the presentation of nature-related art, music, craft, and entertainment events. 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. Call 914.723.3470 or visit www.greenburghnaturecenter.org

The Trevor Zoo is dedicated to environmental education and to the conservation of the world’s wildlife through programs in habitat preservation and the captive breeding of endangered species. Visitors enter the six-acre zoo via a bridge overlooking a North American otter enclosure on one side and a large waterfowl pond with on the other. They then proceed to four zoo geographic regions: Australia, North America, Asia, and South America. Winding paths take visitors through a total of twelve different exhibits including a covered bridge with views of birds of prey as well as bamboo groves sheltering red pandas and Asian deer. The center encourages people to support wildlife conservation, to become better informed about pressing environmental problems, to make environmentally sensitive decisions regarding their life-style, and to promote conservation alerts and legislation at the local, state, and federal levels. For information, call 845.677.3704 or visit www.trevorzoo.org

1 Midland Ave, Yonkers, NY 10705, (914) 231-2865
Tibbetts Brook Park a 161acre park with its mammoth 412’ x 125’ pool is one of the first parks developed by the County. The Park offers many recreational activities throughout the year and hosts ethnic celebrations, fairs and festivals during the summer months.

525 S Riverside Ave, Croton On Hudson, NY 10520, (914) 271-8981
At Van Cortlandt Manor, explore the stone manor house and brick ferry house, wander through the heritage gardens, and stroll down a quiet country road along the Croton River. There, you`ll experience the domestic life of a patriot family living in the years just after the American Revolution – the New Nation period. Costumed guides demonstrate and invite visitors to try their own hands at blacksmithing, brick making, open-hearth cooking, spinning, weaving, and other crafts and tasks of the period. These activities and a lively program of special events help bring the past to life. Enter the manor house and see an extraordinary collection of furnishings from the colonial and federal periods, in their original setting. Downstairs hear about one of the largest and best-equipped colonial kitchens in America and see samples of 18th-century medicines and foodways. At the Ferry House, built before 1750, find a rural tavern that offered food, drink, and lodging to travelers along the Albany Post Road. As you walk through the gardens, you`ll find a remarkable array of flowers, vegetables, and herbs available to American gardeners in the late 18th century. Visit www.hudsonvalley.org

Route 121 S, Cross River, NY 10518, (914) 763-3493
The 4,315-acre park makes Ward Pound Ridge Reservation the county’s largest park. With its varied terrain and landscapes. And miles of wooded trails the park provides a variety of activities in all seasons. There are areas for picnicking, lean-to camping, fishing and cross-country skiing. Hike to the Leatherman`s cave and explore history.

675 W 252nd St, Bronx, NY 10471, (718) 549-3200
Wave Hill is a 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades. Its mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscapes, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts. Visit www.wavehill.org

455 Mamaroneck Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583, (914) 722-1289
For more than 30 years, this ten-acre sanctuary, owned by the Village of Scarsdale, has been a haven for a wide variety of animals and birds, as well as for people. With a meadow, fruit orchard, woodlots, swamp, and an apiary for bees, the Nature Center is perfect for family outings. Folks can stroll the trails or take advantage of the 8-mile trail that connects the Center to Pinebrook Ball Park for a lengthy hike. The Trailside Nature Museum offers nature-related exhibits, and families will find opportunities throughout the year to enjoy Special Events and Programs. The many Children`s Programs, including after-school programs, help introduce them to the world of nature. The Native American Village offers visitors the chance to explore the life and culture of the Lenape and Iroquois Tribes through exhibits that focus on how Indians lived with nature. Picnic area available. Handicapped: Accessible. Visit site.

8 Bradford Rd, Mt Vernon, NY 10553, (914) 813-6990
One of the oldest parks in the county system, Wilson’s Woods is a 23-acre park offering a wave pool, water slides, a spray deck and water playground, against the backdrop of an English Tudor style bathhouse. The park also has areas for picnicking and fishing.